Barber becomes PD's second player to make McDonald's game

Dave Johnson, djohnson@dailypress.com | 757-247-4649

Anthony Barber doesn't like to get ahead of himself, and he knew that some 400 high school seniors had been nominated to play in the McDonald's All-American game. But given his year and high standing among the recruiting analysts, he liked his chances.

Barber was notified that he was one of 24 players chosen to compete in the 36th annual game, which will be played April 3 at the United Center in Chicago and televised by ESPN. The official announcement came Friday afternoon on ESPNU.

"It's a big deal to me," Barber said after Thursday night's 77-56 win over Phoebus in the Peninsula District semifinals. "A lot of great players who have gone to the McDonald's game made it to the league, so it'll be a great experience for me.

"I thought I had a good chance to make it coming in as the third (-ranked) point guard in the nation. If I didn't make it, it would have been motivation. But it's still motivation that they selected me. I'm going to go out there and do my best."

Rivals.com ranks Barber the No. 11 prospect in the Class of 2013 and the third-best point guard. He is the reigning Group AAA Player of the Year and signed last November with N.C. State.

Barber is only the second Peninsula District player to be selected to the McDonald's All-American game. Hampton's Ronald Curry was a 1998 selection and won the John Wooden Award as the top player with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

"We're all proud of Cat," Hampton assistant coach Eric Brown said. "Making the McDonald's game is a tremendous achievement for him, his coaches, and his family. It's been a long, hard road since his freshman year."